REEis finds home defects, saves owners money

It is a typical northeast Valley tract house built more than 20 years ago with white-stucco walls, red-tile roof and arched windows in a vaguely Mediterranean style.

And, as with other homes of its vintage, Marc Bonacci's house has energy-wasting problems related to how it was built and insulated, according to Todd Russo, director of REEis Inc., an energy-auditing company based at the Scottsdale Airpark.

REEis did an energy audit on Bonacci's home last month that turned up more than a dozen problems. Fixing those defects would save the homeowner $650 to $850 annually on utility costs and improve the indoor-air quality with more consistent temperatures throughout the house, Russo said.

Lots of energy-conscious homeowners are focused on efficient windows, solar water heating and photovoltaic panels, but he said there are cheaper improvements that should take priority.

"Fix the guts of your home first," Russo said.

That includes things like improperly installed insulation and leaky air ducts.

Following a 90-minute audit of Bonacci's home, Russo recommended $1,745 worth of improvements.

An estimated rebate from Arizona Public Service Co. of $250 for fixing the leaky air ducts and a $500 federal tax credit would reduce the cost to just under $1,000.

REEis assists in filing paperwork for the utility-company rebates and federal-tax credits.

The recommended work includes:

 Caulking windows and doors to eliminate leaks.

 Adding $465 of blown-in cellulose insulation.

 Sealing leaks in the ducts around the air handler.

David Robinson of REEis said problems with the home's energy use were apparent just by looking at the utility bill, which was $350 in December.

The two-story, 3,000-square-foot home was built about 1987. The highest utility bill should be in July and August at no more than $300 per month or about 10 cents per square foot, Robinson said.

He and Russo discovered big gaps around the air handler and interior walls without air barriers. That meant that in the summer, 130-degree air from the attic was compromising the home's thermal barrier.

"Building science has changed over time," Russo said. "How they are framed and insulated leads to a lot of failures."

REEis, which started in 2008, does energy audits and fixes construction defects aimed at reducing a home's energy demand by at least 20 percent. The company is accredited by the Building Performance Institute, a national organization that sets standards for home-performance contracting.

REEis does the repairs or hires subcontractors to do some of the work. The company also does a pressurized test of the home before and after the repairs to make sure the problems are resolved.